Moville Community College 3/1 Colaiste Bride, Enniscorthy
Aine McLaughlin (33), Sarah Jane McDonald (42, 50), Shona Spratt Murphy (5)
Moville came from a goal behind to sink Enniscorthy’s hopes of a place in an All Ireland Final when the Donegal School scored a brace of goals in the second half which they saw off Colaiste Bride yesterday, (14 April) in Kingspan Century Park:
This will be Moville’s second appearance in an All Ireland Final in a matter of weeks as they lost out to St Mary’s SS, Convent of Mercy Ballina in the Junior Girls Final last month but Manager Noreen Meehan is determined to do one better this time around:
“Some of the girls today were involved in the U16 Final in Longford and were very disappointed to lose that day: We will be hoping that this team can go on and get the win they need to bring the title back to Donegal”:
The Leinster Champions, Colaiste Bride are relatively new to this competition but their inexperience didn’t show as they displayed some excellent football throughout the first half: The Wexford School took the lead with just five minutes played after a well executed goal from Shona Spratt Murphy:
Moville were on the back foot for most of the game and were forced to make a tactical switch which saw the introduction of Arlene McDermott for Eimear Grant: McDermott’s introduction seemed to lift the Donegal spirits as Eimear Lafferty came close but a great save from Tamara Furlong denied the youngster:
Enniscorthy couldn’t capitalise on the majority of their possession and ended the half with a narrow 1/0 lead:
This was short lived as Donegal snatched the equaliser shortly after the interval: The impressive Melissa McDermott played a fantastic through ball to Aine McLaughlin in space: McLaughlin side stepped Annie Stafford and slipped the ball past keeper Furlong:
Arlene McDermott came close to grabbing Donegal’s second but her effort drifted wide of the right minutes later:
Enniscorthy’s defence were under severe pressure throughout the second half and good work from Amy Stokes and Ciara Butler kept the girls in contention:
Moville however took the lead with 42 minutes played as Arlene and Melissa McDermott combined well down the right flank, releasing the ball to Charmine McDermott who was denied by a brave save by Furlong: The keeper was unable to get back to goal as the rebounding shot fell to the feet of Sarah Jane McDonald who tapped the ball into an open goal:
Both Rita Davitt and Mary Tyrell were impressive for Colaiste Bride but their efforts were denied by great team work from Aine Breslin, Eimear Lafferty and Rebekah Henry who were solid throughout the 60 minutes:
Moville’s third goal of the afternoon came with ten minutes remaining: Melissa McDermott turned supplier for the industrious Sarah Jane McDonald: Her superb strike lifted the back of the net from 12 yards out securing victory for the Ulster stars:
The last of the action saw McDonald denied her hat trick as she tried to lob the keeper but her effort drifted agonising high and over the crossbar with only minutes remaining:
Moville will have to wait and see who their opposition will be in the Final as Presentation College, Athenry take on St Angela’s School, Ursuline Convent in the other semi final this Friday at Killavilla Park, Roscrea (KO 2pm)
Moville Community College: Danielle Clarke, Rebekah Nenry, Leon Boyce, Kathy McLaughlin, Aine Breslin, Eimear Lafferty, Aine McLaughlin, Charmine McDermott, Melissa McDermott, Eimear Grant, Sarah Jane McDonald
Subs:Meagan Grant, Michaela McCauley, Arlene McDermott for Eimear Grant (22), Stacey Doherty for Arlene McDermott (58), Dayna Molloy, Laureasa McCallan, Katie McColgan
Teachers: Noreen Meehan & Seamus Gallagher
Coláiste Bride, Enniscorthy: Tamara Furlong, Amy Stokes, Ciara Butler, Annie Stafford, Niamh Gahan, Mary Tyrell, Shona Spratt Murphy, Rita Fortune, Michelle Gahan, Amy Walsh, Rita Davitt
Subs: Amy Benville for Rita Fortune (51), Mary Gahan for Amy Walsh (h/t)
Teacher: John O’Shea
Referee: Alex Toirovs (Monaghan/Cavan)